Stapling 101
July 6th, 2004
Working with rare materials, I spend more time worrying about the art of removing staples and other troublesome fasteners than the art of adding them. Yesterday, however, I read a post titled “The Perfect Angle to Staple Paper” (via things), and I started thinking about stapling and how vexing the mechanics of staples and staplers are for many people.
Anyone who works in a library or office where unsupervised stapling is allowed can probably attest to this. At a library where I worked previously, jammed and broken staplers were a daily sight for me. The regular staplers for public use had to be unjammed two or three times a day, and the (very expensive) heavy-duty staplers had to be stored behind the circulation desk after three were broken in less than a month.
For a long time, I assumed that this was a public services problem, since people are often careless with “free” equipment and materials, but a recently overheard customer service interaction changed my perspective. I was in a local stationery/office supply shop when a customer came in to return a “defective” stapler. The clerk explained that the stapler was not defective; it was not working because the man had put heavy-duty staples in a standard stapler. “Well, how am I supposed to know that heavy-duty staples can’t go in a regular stapler? No one ever explained that to me, and it doesn’t say that on the stapler,” complained the customer. With much grace and aplomb, the clerk sympathized, claiming that he also had trouble with staplers and staples before he started working in an office supply store. Then, he helped the man select a new stapler and a supply of standard staples.
The moral of the story: everyday things are not always as simple (or self-explanatory) as they may seem.
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1. David Bigwood | July 8th, 2004 at 2:53 pm
There are green alternatives to staples that should be considered. An example is the Staple Free Stapler at http://www.greenhome.com/products/office/office_supplies/107970/
Your main point is right, how can anyone be expected to understand the fine points of every piece equipment? Photocopiers are another example. Each is so different than the rest that knowing one machine does not mean that knowledge will apply to another machine.
2. Vernica | July 9th, 2004 at 11:34 pm
The staple free staplers are very nice (and environmentally friendly). Now, I want to add one of those to my ever-growing office supply wish list. Thanks for sharing the link, David.
You are absolutely right on your comment about photocopiers. Printers, photocopiers, staplers, pencil sharpeners, and anything else provided for self-service in libraries often become a source of stress for users and staff. Library users want the ability to make their own photocopies (staple their own papers, conduct their own searches in a library catalogue, etc.), but when instructions for use are not clear or when something goes wrong, many users are too embarrassed to ask for help. Or they ask for help and are met by exasperated staff. (I have been the exasperated staff member before, so I can make that comment).
That is the danger of equating self-service with self-explanatory.
3. Allen | July 12th, 2004 at 4:25 pm
It never ceases to amaze me that librarians seem to be the only people able to figure out high-tech items like staplers and photocopiers. Look at the equipment, observe how the parts are connected, look for little instructional bits, do a little trial and error, etc. The real problem is a lack of patience and the fact that people are not taught anything resembling analytical problem-solving.
Allen